Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From 4-1 Win to Henderson

The Ontario Reign found the win column with their best 60-minute effort to start the season in a 4-1 win to the Henderson Silver Knights.

First period:

ONT: PP Reilly Walsh (1), ASST: Charles Hudon (1), Samuel Fagemo (1)

ONT: Shawn Element (2), ASST: Jack Millar (1)

Second period:

HSK: PP Mason Morelli (2), ASST: Tanner Laczynski (5), Gage Quinney (4)

ONT: Jacob Doty (1), ASST: Samuel Helenius (1), Cole Krygier (1)

Third period:

ONT: EN Charles Hudon (1), ASST: Jeff Malott (2), Glenn Gawdin (2)

Stats

Goals:

ONT: 4

HSK: 1

Shots:

ONT: 38

HSK: 35

Power plays: 

ONT: 1/4

HSK: 1/6

Here are the three takeaways from Friday’s 4-1 victory:

Portillo returns

Erik Portillo returned last night after missing the previous three games with an illness. He didn’t see many shots in the first period as the Reign spent most of the period in the Henderson end. Periods two and three were a different story. He made 29 saves on 30 shots in the final 40 minutes, which included stopping all 15 shots in the third period. Portillo made multiple big saves, three or four by my count, but his biggest one came in the third period when he slid from post to post to deny Grigori Denisenko back door with the left pad. Portillo stopped 34 of 35 shots and was named the second star of the game. A good welcome back indeed.

Sixty minutes

Hockey. A game of 60 minutes. If you give a 60-minute effort your chances to win are likely high. That hasn’t been the case for the Reign through their first five games. Game six was a different story. From puck drop the Reign were quick to loose pucks. Shots were on the net. They scored a power-play goal. The defense and goaltending were solid.

For the first time, they led [2-0] after twenty minutes. While the power play got a goal, the penalty kill was solid in standing up at the blue line on any Silver Knights’ zone entry that resulted in easy clear attempts. It was the best all-around effort from the Reign this season, and it should please head coach Marco Sturm.

Fourth line strikes twice

The fourth line found the scoresheet twice. Shawn Element scored the first goal by deflecting the puck past Akira Schmid on a shot from the right point by Jack Millar. Jacob Doty scored a rebound goal after Schmid stopped Samuel Helenius’ initial shot. The fourth line got pucks and bodies to the net and won board battles. They did all the right things and got rewarded with two goals. Getting production from your fourth line always helps.

NOTES:

*Charles Hudon found the scoresheet for the first time this season recording two points (1G-1A).

*Reilly Walsh recorded his first goal as a member of the Reign.

*Jack Millar recorded his first career professional point with a primary assist on Element’s goal.

UP NEXT: The Reign and Silver Knights are back at it again tonight, this time at Toyota Arena. The game starts at 6 PM PT and can be seen on FloHockey TV.

Featured image credit: Henderson Silver Knights

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